Kirby Mountain: Gas and oil interests now openly in charge of American Wind Energy Association

Whose interests are being served? As many people have long pointed out, the industrial wind industry is not an alternative to but a symptom of big energy. . . .

On Nov. 14, the the industry trade group American Wind Energy Association announced a new chief executive officer (CEO) to replace Randall Swisher after nearly 20 years: Denise Bode, who will take over in January.

Denise Bode has been the CEO of natural gas lobby American Clean Skies Foundation. Before that, she was president of Independent Petroleum Association of America and legal counsel to former Senator David Boren of Oklahoma, who sits on the board of Conoco Phillips.

She was appointed to George W. Bush's Energy Transition Advisory Team and has lectured at the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society.

If you care about vulnerable people, should you strive for a cooler world with less reliable energy?

Even in comparatively warm Georgia, having adequate heat can mean the difference between life and death for seniors, children and sick people. The overall mortality rate increases by 15 percent in cold weather due to illnesses like hypothermia, pneumonia and influenza.